‘No lynch mob’ over inquisition of Murdochs

RUPERT Murdoch and his son James will not face a “lynch mob” at their grilling by MPs tomorrow.

Conservative MP John Whittingdale, chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport committee, said that the hearing should be a fact-finding exercise rather than a chance for revenge by MPs against the media chiefs.

Tycoon Rupert Murdoch and James, a News Corporation executive, will be questioned for up to two hours in Westminster’s Portcullis House. Doubt was cast last night whether former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks will also attend following her arrest.

Mr Whittingdale said: “I don’t want us to be a lynch mob. On the other hand, I don’t want us to let them off without addressing properly the questions we have.

“I’m sure my colleagues will take the same view – that we will be calm and will ask factual, detailed questions.

“The sole purpose of the committee is to try to get closer to the truth. The reason we have asked James Murdoch particularly to come before the committee is because he has publicly stated that Parliament has been misled.

I don’t want us to be a lynch mob. On the other hand, I don’t want us to let them off

John Whittingdale MP

“So one of the things we would want to know is: Who it was that misled us, in what way, and how long has that been known?”

Mr Whittingdale dismissed suggestions that he was close to Mrs Brooks after it emerged that she was listed on his Facebook internet site.

He insisted: “I have 570 friends.”

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